On their debut album Night of 1000 Candles, the Men They Couldn't Hang come across a bit like the Pogues, but without the slurred sloppiness or Shane MacGowan's vulgar wit. Instead, the group relies on straight-ahead ro... more &raquock and unadorned folk, which are tied together by their compassionate working-class stance and passionate playing. Most of the record consists of sturdy originals from Phil Odgers and Paul Simmonds, with a few covers, such as Eric Bogle's 'The Green Fields of France', thrown in for good measure.&laquo less

Synopsis

Album Description

On their debut album Night of 1000 Candles, the Men They Couldn't Hang come across a bit like the Pogues, but without the slurred sloppiness or Shane MacGowan's vulgar wit. Instead, the group relies on straight-ahead rock and unadorned folk, which are tied together by their compassionate working-class stance and passionate playing. Most of the record consists of sturdy originals from Phil Odgers and Paul Simmonds, with a few covers, such as Eric Bogle's 'The Green Fields of France', thrown in for good measure.

CD Reviews

Brilliant !

10/22/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

""The Men..." nearly an unknown entity , yet the band produced some of the finest music of their time (or any other)the quality of which there is a dirth of now crossing the proverbial Pond ( let alone in America). THIS album (ALL their music)is smart, irreverant, and raucous - not unlike The Pogues of yore (pre-MacGowan departure) or The Popes of present. Music to be listened to, pondered over and celebrated ; as loud and wildly as you can. Time well spent!"

Updated from the original release

David A. Clarke | Chicago, IL United States | 01/17/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The early mid-80's were a great time to be young and British, a vibrant sub-culture that was avowedly anti-thatcher, a vast number new-wave inspired music genre's fusing and this album catches the time wonderfullyAnti-War sentiments abound (The UK had just won the Falklands War and the Iron Lady had called an election early to capitalise on the victory), the 80's depression was starting to bite and Heroin culture was emerging and thus there are many references about unemployment, drug taking and having to move elsewhere to find workThe musical fusions abound, much of the albums sounds pogue-like but that's hardly a surprise seeing that the core band formed from Pogue roadies, but Rockabilly and Folk can be foundThe album is an update to the original containing some of the subsequent singles (however it gets 4 * for missing the sublime "Goldrush" and "Whisky and me Giro") and other songs that could only be found on music magazine covermounts or Pirate tapes from Camden LockHowever if you ever fortunate to have found youselves at the "Hope and Anchor", "The Town and Country" or own "Rum Sodomy and the Lash" then you should own this album"